My girl loved life, says heartbroken mother of Shrewsbury diet pills tragedy woman

Fiona Parry said: "She never intended to take her own life. She just never really understood how dangerous the tablets that she took were."

Mrs Parry spoke of the devastating effects the pills had on her daughter, and praised attempts by staff at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to save her.

Eloise, who died on April 12, had no idea the pills could pose a danger to her health, said her mum.

The inquest into Eloise's death was today opened and adjourned.

Eloise was confirmed dead at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The hearing was told a post mortem was carried out on April 14, and the cause of death would be confirmed following toxicity tests.

The inquest has been adjourned until July 2 by John Ellery, coroner for Telford, Wrekin and Shropshire.

Miss Parry, of Condover, near Shrewsbury, said: "I didn't know it at the time, but Ella had bought slimming tablets on the internet. She bought a substance called DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol) that is unsuitable for human consumption because of its toxicity.

"She had taken even more of these slimming tablets than recommended on the pack and had no idea just how dangerous they really were.

"How many of us have ever thought 'if one tablet works, surely it won't hurt to take one or two more'?

"When she started to feel unwell, she drove herself to hospital and walked into A&E. She explained what she had taken and there was no great panic as she was still completely lucid and with it. At this point she still seemed to be OK. That all changed when the toxicity report came back and it was clear how dire her situation was.

"The drug was in her system, there was no antidote, two tablets was a lethal dose – and she had taken eight. As Eloise deteriorated, the staff in A&E did all they could to stabilise her. As the drug kicked in and started to make her metabolism soar, they attempted to cool her down, but they were fighting an uphill battle. She was literally burning up from within.

"When she stopped breathing, they put her on a ventilator and carried on fighting to save her. When her heart stopped they couldn't revive her. She had crashed.

"She had taken so much DNP that the consequences were inevitable. They never stood a chance of saving her. She burned and crashed."

Mrs Parry said Eloise's family was with her when she died.

• See also: Shrewsbury woman dies after taking diet pills

She added: "Most of us don't believe that a slimming tablet could possibly kill us.

"DNP is not a miracle slimming pill. It is a deadly toxin. It is similar to TNT in structure and TNT is an explosive. DNP causes your metabolism to run at an explosive level, with potentially fatal consequences."

Miss Parry paid tribute to her daughter, who had attended Church Stretton High School, saying how she loved life and trying new experiences.

Eloise had three brothers and one sister.

She added: "Eloise was a student at Glyndwr University and on course to study a masters when she had finished her degree. After university she was looking forward to a career working with young people and their families.

"She also spent some time doing voluntary work for a local organisation called Young Health Champions.

"She loved how exciting life could be; how new experiences offered up thrilling possibilities and a whole world of opportunities to be explored.

There were so many things that she dreamed of doing."